Cloth-handling machine



. Feb. 25, 1930. A. BIRCH 1,748,275

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. so, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i lnvenr'or. Alberr Birch YMWkW AHys Feb. 25, 1930. A. BIRCH 1,748,275

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov: 50. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenro Alberr Bi I byMWkW AT Tye;

Patented Feb. 1930 'rl s PATENT Pica -ALBERT Bmomor BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS I CLOTH-HANDLING lvmorrnvn Application filed November 30, 1927. Serial No. 236,744.-

I This invention relates to a cloth-handling machine suchas is used to open and spread out flat a web of cloth as it is taken from a dye vat or other similar receptacle or otherwise being'operated upon and to guide the opened web in its passage to some machine I such as a drying machine or cloth-finishing machine, etc. One formof cloth opener and gulde which 1s now commonlyused comprises 7 1 a pair ofconical rollers over which the cloth to bewopened is drawn and which are journalledon'a pivoted support with their axes having an angularrelation to each other and with the smaller end of thefrollers at the apex of the angle. These rollers are normally freely rotatable and are rotated b y'the'cloth as the latter is drawn over them, said rollers 'operating to open the web of cloth and deliver it inaflat'condition. So long as the web is centrally located on the rolls the pivoted sup-.

port will maintain its central or neutral position but if during the travel of the web over the rolls the latter moves laterally so that one roll supports a. greater portion of the web than theother thenthe pivoted support will be'defiected downwardly atone end.

In prior. devices means have been provided whereby when one end of the support is thus deflected downwardly the roller on said combined'result of the increased friction on the stationaryjrollerand the rotative movecentral or neutralv I the locked roller.

mentof the opposite roller the fabric will be moved laterally to central positionagain at which time the support will again resume its position thus unlocking I -The present invention has for one of its objects to im prove'devices of this type by providingnieans whereby as oneor thev other of the pivoted supports is deflected the correspending roller will be frictionally retarded rather than locked against rotation; This results in producing. a more sensitive guide which holds the fabric more accurately to its central position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved central bearing for the meeting ends of the rollers and to provide end will be looked against rotation and the other features of improvement all as will be i more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cloth opener and threaded or otherwise formed and they may be straight or conical as desired. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention these rollers are conical rollers and are shown as having corrugated surface. Said rollers are 'journalled on a support 3 which in turn is pivotally mounted upon a suitable frame 4. The rollers have an angular relation to each other with the smaller ends ofthe rollers at the apex of the angle as usual in devices of this sort. l i V The smaller ends of the conical rollers are journalled in a central bearing 5 and the larger ends of the rollers are journalled in bearings 6.

The support 3 is provided with the trunnions 7 that are supported in bearings 8 carried by the frame twhereby said support is adapted to swing or turn about the trunnions.

One feature of the present inventionrelates to a novel means for frictionally retarding each roller whenever the cloth tends to move laterally from its central position. For this purpose means are provided for applying a frictional braking pressure to one or the other of the rollers as the support 3 tilts depending on the extent and direction of the tilting movement. Any appropriate form of brake may be employed without departing from the invention. In the illustrated embodiment I have shown a brake in the form of an external brake.

The large endof each roller is provided with a cylindrical braking surface 9 with which a frictionbrake 10 co-operates. This brake is pivoted on a pin 11 extending from the bearing or bracket 6' and it is provided with an arm 12that is formed with a ball end 13 that is received in a socket 14 provided at the upper end of a stud 15, the latter being secured rigidly in the frame 4.

, The brake is so constructed that when the support 3 is in its neutral central position the brake will be disengaged or separated from the braking surface 9 as shown in Fig. 5. If, however, the support 3 tilts downwardly at either end, as shown by the dotted line, Fig. 5, such downward movement will cause a swinging movement of the brake because of the fact that the end 13 is held in the stationary socket lt'and the brake will be applied to the surface :9. The degree of brakinggpressure whichresults will depend upon theextent of tilting movement of the support 3.

If during the operation :ofzthe machine the cloth tends to move laterally from its central position the support 3 will begin to tilt downwardly at one end and as this movement commences the brake will be applied thusretarding the rotation of the roll. If the retardation is sufficient to correct the tendency of the cloth to move laterally then there will be no further tilting movement of the support and as the cloth resumes its normal central position the support will return to its balancedcondition and the braking pressure will be relieved. On the other hand, if a slight braking pressure resultingfrom the initial tipping movement does not sufficient- 1y retard the roller to cause the cloth to be brought back to its central position and the support continues to tilt the result will be that the braking pressure will be applied to a greater extent thus further retarding the roller. This retardation of the roller will continue until itis suflicientto cause the cloth to be brought back to its central position.

'7 With my invention the roller is not necessarily locked against rotation but its rotation istmerely retarded and this makes a much more sensitive apparatus.

" Another feature of the invention relates to a construction wherein the central bearing 5 is protected from contact with the cloth. Thissbearing '5 comprisesia posthaving a head 16 at its upper end provided with two sockets journalled with ball or rollerbearings22 in which the ends 23 of the roller shafts are received. These ball or roller bearings are received in recesses 24 formed in the bearing member 6 andare retained in place by means 7 .of suitable removable caps 25.

the supporting frame and an actuating arm for each brake pivoted to the main frame.

2. In a device of the class described, the' combination-with a supporting frame, of a rigidsupport pivoted centrallv on the frame, two guiding rollers journalled in the support and over which the cloth is drawn, each roller having a peripheral frictional-surface, .a brake member. for each roll pivoted to the supporting frame, an danarm extending from g each brake member and having a plvotal connection with the main frame, whereby as the,,? supportingframe tilts the brake will be applied .to one .or the other of Itherollers.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination with asup porting frame, of a rigid support pivoted centrally onjthe frame, 1, two guiding rollers journalled in the support i and over which the cloth is drawnpeach roller having .a' peripheral frictional surface, a brake member for each roll pivoted to the supporting frame, and an arm extend-ingios from each brake member and having a sliding connection with the mainframe, where by as the supporting frame tilts the brake will be applied toione or the other of the rollers. l

1. Inadevice of the class described, the combination with a supporting rarne, of a rigidsupport pivoted centrally on the frame, two guiding rollers journalled in. the support and over which the cloth is drawn, each roller 13 havinga peripheral frictional surface, a brake member for each roll "pivoted to the supporting frame, and an arm extending from each brake member and having a ballshaped end and a socket rigid with themain frame and in which the ball is slidingly and pivotally received. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

p ALBERT BIRCH. 7 1.115 

